Press Release

Woman Drowns on STJ – Passengers Escape Overturned Truck

Police on St. John said a 64-year-old female visitor to the island apparently drowned while snorkeling on Saturday, May 19 near Water Lemon Bay. The victim was swimming with about three other persons who left the water, but continued to watch her snorkel, police said.

When the victim seemed to be in distress her companions went to her assistance by using a dingy. EMT Fire Fighters, National Park Rangers were on the scene and CPR was administered to the victim. She was taken to the Myra Keating Community Health Clinic and pronounced dead at about 4:15 p.m. the same day.

According to the preliminary report, the victim and her companions were aboard the private vessel the Stella Maris and had been in the Virgin Islands about five hours.

Also on Saturday on St. John, a cement truck overturned on a road near Fish Bay. The overturned truck plummeted over a rocky ridge, into a villa and finally coming to rest on a hairpin curve. The passengers jumped out of the vehicle before it went over the ridge and were unharmed.